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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2012 May;11(3):222–235. doi: 10.2174/187152712800672490

Table 2.

A Summary of Adrenergic Signaling Contribution to Pain Perception

Molecule Spinal
Nociception		 Peripheral
Nociception
Epi/NE ↓ ↑
Epi/NE releasing or blocking drug ↓ ↑
Epi/NE releasing cell or tissue transplant ↓ *
Adrenergic Agonist ↓ ↓↑**
Adrenergic Antagonist ↑ ↓↑**
Enzymatic COMT activity ↑ ↓
*

Legend: We have not been able to find in the literature a description of an Epi/NE releasing cell or tissue (chromaffin) transplanted other than the subarachnoid space, the eye, or within regions of the brain.

**

The (α2-adrenergic signaling is generally analgesic and α1 and β-adrenergic signaling is hyperalgesic or analgesic, depending on pain modality.